Sunday February 23, 2009...Admiration

All of us appreciate admiration, although many of us have a hard time accepting it from others. I have always admired people who are mechanically inclined and can work on electronics and automobiles and such. They don't think anything about taking out an engine and repairing it. They think it is the most natural thing in the world to be able to analyze and repair automobiles. Or think about people who really know their sports statistics and all the trivia relating to sports, I can't hold a candle to those people. I have always admired people who can sit down and write novels – they invent a world and create a story that all of us can appreciate and enjoy. Artists conceive remarkable visions in their minds and somehow convey that in other media.

I have enjoyed admiration lately from people who appreciate the video and photographic endeavors that I have taken on for our reunion. It isn't work, it's fun for me and it doesn't feel as though it's anything special to me. I look for the challenge of presenting photos and music in an interesting way and it's fun when it works. It's hard for me to consider that it's not anything that anyone else could have done with just a little effort. I suppose I'm just like the mechanics and artists that I admire just for having the ability to do something that not all people can do. I've been dabbling with computers since the 1970's trying to find out what I can make this machine do. It's such a useful tool and with the increasing capabilities of the modern personal computer, it's hard to keep up with all the things it can now do. But it is fun to try. And it is fun to be appreciated. Thanks.

Saturday February 7, 2009...Check out the player

I just added the music player at the top of this site. It's pretty cool. Of course, I loaded about 150 songs from the 1950s, so it won't suit everyone, but I like the music. I found the gadget at playlist.com which allows you to make your list of music and add the player to your blog. There seems to be millions of songs available on this site, so check it out and listen to the tunes.

Sunday February 1, 2009...A whole nother month

It's February already! I wasn't finished with January yet. This last month disappeared quickly. Maybe it was the Changing of the guard, or the changing of the weather or my changing of household, but it really did pass through my fingers quickly.

My daughter, son-in-law and grandson are firmly ensconced in their new home here with me, along with numerous pets and many boxes. Zachary is enrolled in school and Chuck has found a job and they now have everything unloaded from storage. We have been becoming used to each other's schedule and all seems to be well. Maybe time flies by faster when you are sharing life with more people?

The economy really stinks right now and I'm afraid that it will get worse before it starts to turn around - but there isn't a lot that we can do individually except keep a positive outlook for the eventual future. The country has been through panics and recessions and depressions before and, in time, this one will also pass. At least the politicians are not ignoring the data and some are even considering the plight of the common man (for a change). It gives one some hope.

Every once in while the whole world becomes so complacent with the status quo and a bit of a rough time may wake up people to the fact that we all have to pull together as one people in order to pull our society up from the hole we have sunk into. Greed has to be overcome and sensibility and responsibility has to come to the forefront.

So many people have gambled their future by over-extending their debt assuming that the future will always be rosy and just like the present. Many haven't been through hard times before and don't realize that life isn't always fair and stable. You need to save a bit from the good years to carry you through the lean times. Droughts do occur occasionally and you must be prepared. Unfortunately, many people have not saved and have no cushion to help now. I'm afraid that many will lose their jobs and their homes in a very short time and that means they will have to start all over again just like when they first started. It's a hard way to learn, but we've seen it before. My parents came through the depression of the 1930's and that may be comparable to what is developing right now. Attitudes will have to change and people will have to adapt and hopefully we won't need another war to pull us out of the mess we are going to find ourselves in.

But that's enough bleakness for now. It's February and just 2 months away from spring. I've got family to share with and life holds much promise. The future may be memorable and will certainly be interesting.